US OPEN FINALIST CRASH OUT EARLY IN CHINA

The US Open finalists Madison Keys and winner Sloane Stephens crashed out early at the ongoing Wuhan Open in China. Since their feats at Flushing Meadows, it was their first games.

The 17th placed Stephens at the rankings lost to Wang Qiang 6-2, 6-2.

Many expected the US Open champ to do better than the first round even if she did not go far. The 12th placed Keys lost to compatriot VarvaraLepchenko 6-2, 7-6 (4). The last time finalists at a major lost their next game was back in 2005 when Venus Williams defeat Lindsay Davenport.

“I wasn’t moving that great, just was a tough day for me,” Stephens said after the loss. Wang thoroughly rounded her as she won on her sixth match point.

Keys fought harder, breaking early in the second set but Lepchenko recovered early to win.

Another shock result was Petra Kvitova who lost for the first time in Wuhan in her third visit. Kvitova has a sterling record at the Wuhan Open, winning the 2014 edition and dropping just one set last year. PengShuai used the whole 3 and half hours to win: 7-6 (7), 6-7 (5), 7-6 (3).

Peng used to lose against Kvitova but this time it was different. The Chinese star won the first set against Kvitova in four years and she kept at it, winning the tie breakers too.

The Wuhan Open has been quite eventful as JohanneKonta and Angelique Kerber also lost. Konta lost to Asleigh Barry while Kerber crashed to Caroline Garcia.

Konta claimed all was well and that the “new challenges” would help her development as a player.